With degrees in physics (MIT) and astrophysics (Cornell), Dr. McDonough has worked at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). With astronaut Buzz Aldrin, he was coauthor of the best-selling educational software, Space Adventure. He was Coordinator of The Planetary Society's SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) program for 23 years.

He's currently a Senior Scientist at the Skeptics Society and a Scientific Consultant to the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal (CSICOP).

In 1973, he predicted a new astronomical phenomenon, giant gas rings around the outer planets. The Pioneer and Voyager spacecraft then found these rings around Jupiter, Saturn and Neptune. The theory served as the scientific basis for Larry Niven's novel, The Integral Trees.

He is also a part-time international travel photographer, whose pictures of New Zealand, Bora Bora, India, Bali and other places have appeared in many newspapers.

His motto: "Earth is a nice place to visit, but I wouldn't want to live there."